5 Common Garden Design Mistakes

Chaos.

Too many elements, and not enough places for the eye to rest. The most common mistake that amateur gardeners make is buying one of everything and having no visual order in the landscape.

Simplistic.

The opposite problem can happen when we over prioritize order. The intention is to be modern and have blocks of color and repeating elements, but the result can be a design that lacks creativity, and ends up reading as modern, and boring.

Incoherence.

No discernible theme or consistency. The design should relate to the house and vice versa. The plantings should relate to each other in order to maintain a kind of balance in design that is pleasing to our senses.

Scale & Proportion.

Sometimes design elements are too small or too big, and lack the kind of balance that a good design will entail. When designing patios, decks, and seating areas, make sure to account for the amount of space you will need with the kind of seating you prefer. Design tip: when sizing a patio for seating, make sure you have enough space to walk around the seating area for maximum mobility.

Lack of Balance (Too much hardscape, not enough planting).

A common mistake in the industry is to add too many hardscape elements, and not enough plantings. When designing tight spaces, there’s often little choice to create enough space for all the elements to fit together. To strike the right balance, the planting borders may need to be planted more densely and with more large specimens than would go into a larger backyard.

If all else fails, just admit that designing an outdoor space is challenging, there are many things that could go wrong, and hire a landscape designer!